How to Overcome the Common Challenges of Outsourcing

Deciding to make a change in your business is easy. Actually putting that change into practice? SO much harder!

Once you’ve made the mental shift, you’ve still gotta leap over a giant chasm of worry, planning, and hesitation to transform that mental shift into measurable action. I totally get it; I still have to psych myself up before I jump into change, even if I know it’ll lead to success. That’s just human nature.

But there are ways to ease the transition!

Taking the leap becomes a whole lot easier when you’ve addressed some key concerns ahead of time. And since I know that you’re eager to start outsourcing but weighed down by worry, I’m giving you the knowledge, foresight, and reassurance you need to dive right in.

Let’s look at five common delegation roadblocks, and some simple ways to decimate them.

New here? I also have the following posts to help women entrepreneurs outsource their business tasks like a boss:

And of course, you should definitely take my free quiz to find out the #1 task that you need to outsource to not only free up your time – but to give you the space to focus on revenue-generating tasks in your business.

The only path to growth is to get past this hangup, hire fantastic team members, and give them the training they need.

Put training on your calendar; schedule it and treat it like any unbreakable, non-negotiable appointment. Doing this may force you to push out other work temporarily, but once you’ve got a killer team supporting you it’ll be a cinch to make up that lost time!

I am 100% not kidding when I say that you can’t afford NOT to hire great contractors. Juggling all of the work on your own means putting a cap on your ability to expand your business. You’re just one person, and you’ve only got 24 hours in a day. With a skilled team supporting you, your capacity instantly expands!

Outsourcing challenge: I hired a VA, but it turned out badly

If you’ve experimented with outsourcing before and ended up hiring someone who was a bad fit for your needs, it can be hard to convince yourself to try again. But, my dear, very few endeavors unfold flawlessly on the first try!

Giving up after one negative experience is no way to run a business. Not only that, but it’s possible that YOU contributed to the bad fit. I know, tough love, but it’s an important message. Here are some tips for ensuring your team members are up to snuff:

Have an interviewing plan:Create a screener, research contractors’ experience and portfolio online, be aware of your needs and pet peeves

Be willing to pay more: If you look for cheap support, you’ll get what you pay for.

Know exactly what you need done: Don’t just “wing it” with a new team member, have a plan going in and be able to articulate which workloads you’ll need covered.

Outsourcing challenge: I can’t find good contractors

Know who can help with this one? Everyone in your network! Ask for referrals from other business owners, request help from any entrepreneurial Facebook groups you frequent, or see if your current team members have any colleagues to recommend.

Going it alone is just plain risky. No matter how many great reviews someone gets on Fiverr or how slick her website may look, you’re still guessing at her skills and experience. If you want to ensure you hire great people, ask for help!

Outsourcing challenge: I paid in advance, then didn’t have enough work for my contractor

This one’s on you.

It can be difficult to predict how much work truly needs doing, and almost impossible to know how quickly a new hire can tackle it all. BUT! As the business owner, it’s your responsibility to plan ahead and be as prepared as possible.

Make a list of tasks and projects, and prioritize the list. Update it regularly, and always make sure there are some low-level, maintenance tasks toward the bottom in case the higher priorities take less time than anticipated. Request weekly time-tracking updates from your team, both so you can get a sense of which tasks take the longest and so you know when they’re running low on work.

Finally, ask your team members about work that you haven’t asked them to do, but that they CAN and would like to do! They may have talents you didn’t know about, or suggestions for making the workflow more efficient.

There may still be a few niggling outsourcing concerns holding you back, but hopefully I’ve addressed most of the big ones. So take a deep breath, take the leap, and find out how successful your business can be when it’s supported by smart, capable team members!

Hey gorgeous! I'm Melissa. I'm an entrepreneur, mom to two teens and a dog, and married to the love of my life.

I help women entrepreneurs learn how to outsource tasks and systems in their business to not only free up their time - but to give them the space to focus on revenue-generating tasks. I share outsourcing tips and ideas here on the blog, as well as how to hire a va and other team members.

Post navigation

You Might Also Like

About Melissa

Hey gorgeous! I'm Melissa. I'm an entrepreneur, mom to two teens and a dog, and married to the love of my life.

I'm an outsourcing strategist for women entrepreneurs who are sick of struggling to get everything on their to-do list done while also growing their business and income. Hiring help will free up more of your time to focus on your big vision and the actual creation of your dream business. You'll be able to earn more, reach more, and have the freedom you crave.

Let's Connect

About Melissa

Hello gorgeous, it's Melissa Ingold and I'm so happy you're here! I work with creative women entrepreneurs who are tired of giving up their sacred creation time to attend to the boring duties of running a business.

By signing up and providing your email address you agree to be added to my mailing list, and to receive regular emails from me with content and offers. All emails include an unsubscribe link. You may opt-out at any time. See my Privacy Policy.

Legal Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to accurately represent our programs and its potential. The testimonials and examples used are exceptional results, do not apply to the average purchaser, and are not intended to represent or guarantee that anyone will achieve the same or similar results. In fact, no guarantees are made that you will achieve results from our ideas and techniques in our material. Each individual's success depends on his or her background, dedication, desire, and motivation. As with any business endeavour, there is an inherent risk of loss of capital and there is no guarantee that you will earn any money.

By signing up and providing your email address you agree to be added to my mailing list, and to receive regular emails from me with content and offers. All emails include an unsubscribe link. You may opt-out at any time. See my Privacy Policy.

WAIT, BEFORE YOU GO!

If Outsourcing Isn't Making You Money, You're Doing it Wrong...But that Ends Here!

Get a Free Copy of My "How to Help Your Assistant Make Money for You"
Workbook

YOUR EMAIL:

By signing up and providing your email address you agree to be added to my mailing list, and to receive regular emails from me with content and offers. All emails include an unsubscribe link. You may opt-out at any time. See my Privacy Policy.